Well fellow troopers,
Tomorrow, after 30 years of fighting crime, I am turning in my badge, hanging up the spurs and riding off into the sunset. I can tell you that it has been quite a ride! Wow, it seems like just yesterday that I did my first solo shift on patrol. Man, that S&W .357 magnum, M-28 Highway Patrolman revolver hanging off a brand spanking new Sam Browne belt sure seemed to weigh a ton!
I actually started my career in 1974 as a Police Cadet for a local City PD. It was a small agency (18 sworn, including the Chief, Captain & Sgt's). I became a Reserve Officer there in 1977 and was promoted to a full-time Officer in 1978. After a few years there on patrol, I decided that I needed to "See the world", so I left the PD and joined the Sheriff's Office. This was an agency of 200 sworn and, of course, covered the entire county and had a lot more activity for a fire-breathing, chomping at the bit, righteous young trooper.
I stayed there for the next 16 years and then transferred to the D.A.'s office. This is a day-shift, weekends and holidays off gig, which worked out great for raising the kids (the bride is a police dispatcher, so both of us on shift work was really tough!). I have been with the D.A.'s office for 12 years. For the last 8 years, I have been assigned to a multi-agency, multi-county, computer crimes Task Force as a forensic computer examiner (Basically a computer CSI type of guy).
This last week has been bittersweet for me. While I do look forward to starting a new chapter in my life, I will truly miss the guys and gals that I have had the pleasure and honor to "Ride the river" with. So to those of you who have done your time and have hung up the badge, can I ask ya to please move over a bit and allow another retired brother to sit by the fire.....to those troopers that remain on the job, keep up the good work and stay safe out there......
Arabela Kid